Gauge theory formulations for continuous and higher spin fields

Abstract

We consider a gauge theory action for continuous spin particles formulated in a spacetime enlarged by an extra coordinate recently proposed by Schuster and Toro. It requires one scalar gauge field and has two local symmetries. We show that the local symmetries are reducible in the sense that the parameters also have a local symmetry. Using reducibility we get an action which has two scalar gauge fields and a reducible but simpler local symmetry. We then show how this action and equations of motion are related to previously proposed formulations for continuous spin particles and higher spin theories. We also discuss the physical contents of each formulation to reveal the physical degrees of freedom.